A big thankyou to Real Techniques!

Coming home from a holiday is never a good feeling, however my mood was lifted upon the discovery of a big parcel! I wondered what this could be as I had not recently ordered anything online! I quickly opened the parcel to find two brand new Real Techniqies makeup brushes!

I am a big fan of Real Techniques brushes- they are top quality, easy to clean and certainly don't break the bank! I cannot imagine applying any makeup without a brush anymore! You can purchase these brushes from many UK highstreet stores including Boots and Superdrug for around £10-15.

I was the lucky receiver of the Expert Face Brush, and the super soft Blush Brush. Both these brushes are brilliant and I use them on a daily basis! So a big thankyou to the Real Techniques team!!

I'd really recommend you try any of this fab range, but bear in mind each brush serves a different job & provides a different finish. Read below to find out my personal opinions on the two...

I'd say the Expert Face Brush gives a more matte finish in comparison to my Stippling Brush, it just seems to help my foundation sink into my skin a little better.

It goes without saying that the Blush Brush is the best blusher brush I have owned. I don't like to spend a lot on blusher brushes, so would usually find an old one from the bottom of my makeup drawer. However this brush has changed my opinion- a higher quality blusher brush definitely makes a difference! This brush is so soft and feels lovely on your face! It's great for also applying finishing powder, and the slightly angled end makes it really good for blending blusher onto your cheeks!

Also, Real Techniques do some fab tutorial videos, so be sure to check those out too! Find them here.

Thanks again!

Love Charlotte xxx

Gone Girl

Just a quick post to urge you all to read this book! I am aware the film came out in the UK on the 2nd October and I cannot wait to watch it! But I'm currently stuck in the awkward situation of 'still not finished the book yet dying to go see the film!! It's got such a good cast too, I'm not sure I can wait much longer!

So far, I am finding this such an intriguing read and I am finding it hard to put it down, so hopefully it won't take me too long to finish!

Have any of you seen it? What are your thoughts?!

Love Charlotte xxx

Winter Wardrobe Is Coming Together...

As winter draws in closer, I feel it's time for a re-vamp of my wardrobe. As much as I would love to be able to wear my summer clothes all-year-round, these near-freezing temperatures just aren't allowing me to do so!

So, it's time to ditch the summery floral prints and say hello to big cosy knit jumpers and faux fur (my favourite thing ever!). 

I'm not doing too well with my winter wardrobe at the minute, but here's what I've found so far!

1. Tweed Faux Fur Collar Coat- Warehouse £95

A new winter coat is something I always struggle with. However, after scouring through pretty much every shop on the highstreet, I noticed this coat. Both faux fur and tweed are winners for me, so this just seemed to tick every box! I was a little put off by the hefty price tag, but at the time Warehouse were offering 20% student discount (win!). 

New coat selfie!

(A big tip for all you students would be to check out the UniDays app before you go shopping to ensure you don't miss out on any good offers!)

2. Faux fur gilet- H&M £29.99

Another item of fur-sigh! However, gilets provide the perfect amount of warmth for this inbetweeny autumn/winter period. When it's not quite cold enough for your new winter coat, throw on a gilet! I feel this is the perfect accompaniment to spice up a plain outfit! Here, I styled it with a simple H&M blouse, a pair of jeans and chelsea boots.

3. Black chelsea boots- Office £72

Next up- finding a winter boot to suit you! This is another area I really struggle with, but after purchasing these last winter, they are up there with my favourites! They have lasted all year, and I find them really easy to match with any outfit. Also, my feet are on the large side and these seem to make them look smaller- which is a definite plus!! 

Love Charlotte xxx

Summer Beauty Products.

Dear Diary...
I feel as though I have neglected my online diary for too long now, therefore I am delighted to be making a return! I have no excuse really, all I can blame are uni deadlines and summer beginning! Us British folk must enjoy the sun for as long as possible, it doesn't usually stick around for too long!!

After coming back from one summer holiday (AND getting ready for my second- oops!), I decided a holiday related post would be best! As I guess you can already tell, I absolutely love everything about summer- the warm days, the bright, long evenings & not to mention the wardrobe of summery dresses!! However, one thing I find almost annoying about summer (along with hayfever!) is having to change my whole makeup bag and makeup routine!

I'm guessing it's the change in temperature and humidity etc, but my makeup just does not want to stay put! It's even worse abroad, going for a nice meal or night out with family/friends/boyfriend, making myself look presentable to then find it sliding off my face!!!  I hope I'm not the only one with this problem! Here are some of my favourite summer products both to try to combat this problem & to keep you looking lovely all summer long!...

1. Start from the bottom... Use a good primer.
I never used to be aware of primers but now that I have been using them for a few years, they have become one of those products I cannot be without! Previously I have used MAC's Prep & Prime Skin (£21.00 Debenhams), which was fab but what with saving for holidays etc I have had to reduce my budget!!! I have also heard good things about Smashbox's range of primers! However, for a budget primer, I would suggest Rimmel London Fix & Perfect (£6.99  Boots)

2. Hydrate your skin using a good moisturiser.
Moisturising is key, but especially when your skin is exposed to heat & sun, as they both have extreme drying effects! I suffer with extremely dry skin and Clinique Moisure Surge Intense  is an absolute godsend! At £34.00 from Boots this is definitely not a budget product, but I am yet to find a moisturiser as good as this one! I love the texture, the way it feels on my face, the way it sinks into the skin and most importantly- it doesn't leave that awful sticky feeling!

3. Try finishing powder.
I'm all about the glowy/dewy foundation but I understand the problems it can cause in summer! It jsut doesn't stay on and ends up looking more wet & sweaty than glowing & radiant- not the best look! However, with dry skin, matte foundation just does nothing for me! I find using a powder afterwards not only takes some of the shine away, but also ensures your face doesn't slide off!! I am currently using MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (£22.00 Debenhams).

4. Bronzer- AKA sun in powder form.
This is a must when going abroad. After a few sunbathing sessions is likely to have turned you a lovely golden brown, the only downfall to this is that your foundation no longer matches the rest of you! Have no fear- just pop a light dusting of bronzer over your face (& neck to even the colour out!) & you should be good to go! I am currently using the No7 Perfectly Bronzed Mosaic Bronzer (£12.00 Boots) & love The Body Shop's Honey Bronze Brilliance Powder (£16.00 The Body Shop). This has a great pump like applicator, complete with its own brush on the end- perfect for a summer alternative to blusher.

5. Make a bold colour statement.
Whether its bold eyes or bold lips, summer is the perfect season to make a statement! I prefer using bright, summery colours on my lips- just a personal preference, I find it suits me more than colourful eyeshadow! There are many fab companies out there who do such perfect summery colours. I am a huge fan of MAC and Topshop lippies- as they both provide such a huge range of shades & glide on my lips perfectly without making them look chapped or dry! On a more budget level, I'd recommend Bourjois and Barry M.

(L-R) MAC Creme Cup, Barry M LPS3, H&M Papaya Pumch , L'Oreal 461

These are just a few of my summer beauty tips and products, although I'm no beauty expert, I hope you enjoyed reading!!
Do you have any hints & tips you could share with me?

Love Charlotte xxx 

Birthday Blues...

While most people get excited when birthdays are arriving, I just get totally freaked out!! This time next week I will have turned the big 2-0, meaning I will no longer be classed as a teenager!! (omg nooo!) I know most of you will be reading this thinking 'what is she on about?!' because I understand 20 is not exactly old, not time to sign up for a free OAP bus pass just yet, nor be going to the salon for a 'blue-rinse'...but to me it sounds so old! I wish I could be Peter Pan and stay young forever (sigh- don't we all!)

The best part of a birthday!!

It really scares me how quickly each year comes around, and as the years add up how much more tackling situations we get faced with! To me, growing up is probably my biggest phobia! The thought of getting older, moving out, making my own life and settling down are just a few of the things I fear most! Also, I'm not sure if it's just me but birthdays are far less exciting as the years add up- with birthday lists and birthday presents getting smaller and smaller too (not to say that I'm not appreciative!!).

Therefore, I will be doing my best to ensure that my last week as a teenager is a fun-filled one and to try and turn this negativity into a good thing! Getting older is inevitable, therefore I must try and enjoy it I guess :-) Although, I think I will always be a teen at heart; I'm even going as far as telling people I am turning "twenteen NOT twenty"!!

The Cardiff vs Swansea University varsity will kick off my fun-filled week if last year was anything to go by- fuelled by friends, laughter and possibly a bit of alcohol!! Then on to the weekend where I will be celebrating with my friends in Bath with a few cocktails as we dance the night away!! Here's to hoping this week will be a good one, making sure I get through those birthday blues!!!

Cocktails=the best way to mark a celebration!

How did you celebrate your birthday?
Do you have the same phobia of growing up as me?! I'd love to hear!

Charlotte xxx

Foundation Finder!

Dear Diary...
Two posts in one day- wow aren't you lucky!!!

I have literally JUST came across this amazing website so couldn't hesitate but to write about it!! It's called Findation and is a nifty little website which allows you to perfectly match your foundation shade, based on your previous buys!

I am ALWAYS on the search for a new foundation, but find the process of shade matching extremely daunting, so this really really excites me! Hallelujah!!

Hope this helps all you girls who, like me, get too comfortable with the products I use and find it hard to change!

Charlotte xxx

Wanderlust...

Dear Diary...
Wanderlust is the term used for desire to travel, and I can say I'm definitely suffering from this!! Being a student this can be very tormenting as us students don't tend to have a lot of cash (however, I often hear of people bagging cheap flights/cheap holidays- lucky them!) I thought that it would be best to compile a list of places I would love to visit!

Being a lover of going on holidays and experiencing different cultures, this was a very difficult decision!! But, not to worry, I have chosen to show you just a few locations from my holiday wishlist! If any of you are racking your brains thinking of where you'd like to venture to next, Trip Advisor is a very handy website; providing reviews of cities, hotels, restaurants and just general hints and tips! (Another VERY useful website is the famous Easyjet- providing cheap flights you just cannot refuse!)

Paris
Having been to Paris twice before when I was younger, and not really remembering much from it, I would absolutely love to go here again! It has such a lovely, romantic feel to it and would be the perfect place to spend with loved ones! It is littered with culture, and has loads of famous sights to see, so you would never get bored! ParisInfo is a great website to visit for more info!

Dubai

Being a lover of shopping Dubai is definitely up there in my list of places to go! The malls look incredible, and I find it fascinating how beautiful the beach looks! Shopping + beach = winning combo!!! Why not visit DefinitelyDubai to see more!

These are just a few of the places I would love to jet off to! This has left me feeling a tiny bit depressed as it is raining yet again here in the UK!

Have you been to either or these places, or is there anywhere you would like to visit?! I would love to hear from you!

Charlotte xxx

The #NoMakeUpSelfie Phenomenon!

Dear Diary!
Wow I feel as if I have neglected my posts for a while having been so busy with Uni deadlines and work commitments, so for that I am sorry! Hopefully now, with a few deadlines lurking in the near distance, I can get back to grips with keeping Dear Charlotte's diary up-to-date again!

I've decided to base this week's post on a really recent but HUGE phenomenon that has seemed to take over  social networking sites (as I'm sure you are aware!!), the 'No Make-Up Selfie'! This is in aid of Cancer Research UK- a great charity which is close to my heart- which asks girls to post a bare-faced selfie and text to donate a small sum of £3. Here are some examples including my own selfie (which I bravely placed next to the gorgeous Millie Mackintosh who would look stunning with mud slapped across her face! Brave move huh?!!)

Many people (including myself) were a bit sceptical at first- wondering what difference it actually makes and firstly, feeling dubious about posting a selfie with no slap on in the first place! Us girls are all partial to a selfie every now and again but taking make-up out of the equation can seem quite daunting!!

However, recent artcles by both The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and many more, have shown that this new craze has had massive effects, raising over £2 million for this amazing charity! Apparently men are even getting in on this trend, by posting selfie's with makeup on! (Now is your opportunity to stitch your dad's/boyfriend's/male friends right up! Let's do it girls!)

So, why not have a bit of a laugh and get donating yourselves if you hadn't already done so! I've braved it and posted my no make-up selfie, now it's your turn!!!

Do your bit and text  'BEAT' TO 70077, or click here to donate via their website!

Charlotte xxx

Fragrance Favourites!

Dear Diary...
Anyone who knows me well enough will know I have a soft spot for perfumes! I absolutely cannot leave the house without a spritz of my favourite smell, and as silly as it sounds, each fragrance has its own connotations and its own little story behind it! This means I take much time carefully choosing which perfume compliments my outfit best, or even the mood I'm in!

Now, as I'm sure you're aware, this isn't the cheapest obsession to have, with prices stemming from around £10-£20 right up to £60+!! However, perfumes provide the ideal gift for any special occasion e.g. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries etc! Much to my family and boyfriend's dismay, I am always on the lookout for my next signature scent!!

In terms of my favourite smells, you can never go wrong with  Marc Jacobs' collection. I received Daisy for my birthday a few years ago, and it's the perfect spring/summer fragrance with fresh, floral notes. Safe to say I ran out of this very quickly (often catching my Mum having a sneaky little spray!). This Christmas, I was lucky enough to get one of the newer perfumes from the Marc Jacobs collection; Honey. This is another fresh smelling perfume, with The Perfume Shop describing it by saying "the fragrance opens with a fresh fruity hook, and melts to a beautiful floral honey heart".  I love Honey as I feel it's a little more long-lasting than Daisy! My other long-term favourites include Gucci's Flora range- still floral notes but not quite as potent as the Marc Jacobs collection, and Alien by Thierry Mugler- a strong, mysterious scent which is perfect for nights out!

With high prices in mind, I am extremely excited to share with you all my latest hidden secret; Fragrance Direct. This nifty little website allows you to save the pennies on loads of well-known fragrances, because let's face it, everyone loves a bargain!!

So girls, what's your favourite smell?! Why not get out there and find the right perfume for you! And if you're not feeling the high prices, use my advice and add it to your gift wishlist! 

Charlotte xxx

Winter blues...

Dear Diary...
I think it's pretty safe to say I have the winter blues... I genuinely think I am much happier when it's sunny therefore with this terrible weather we've had in Britain the past few weeks (especially down south where I am!) I feel as though I am in a state of depression!

I commute from my hometown, Bristol, to Cardiff every week for uni, which in this weather has been a nightmare! My days consist of: getting soaked and blown about due to this awful wet weather and blistery winds. Getting ready in the morning is pointless because I end up looking like a drowned rat!

However, a recent shopping trip opened my eyes to the exciting fact that spring is just around the corner!!! Shops are filled with lovely pastel colours and cute little jackets and it's safe to say that I cannot wait for for the sun to make it's long awaited apppearance! Colour me beautiful!

Olivia Palermo.

At the moment I have been lovingsimple, smart yet casual pieces, donned by style Queens such as Olivia Palermo, Miranda Kerr, The Saturdays' Mollie King, and many others! I've seen lots of this sort of style about that pairs smart tops with cigarette-style trousers, tailored shorts/skirts and I just cannot get enough! Sadly, it's not quite appropriate for this awful weather, which is why I can't wait to ditch my warm coat for something a little more fashion conscious!

(all items on the website)

Zara is a great contender for a high-street brand that provides this simple, tailored, smart fashion, as shown by this photo. I love how Zara provides a cheaper, high-street alternative to the styles I've seen around. tThe white two-piece (above)  is almost spitting image as the one fashion icon Kim Kardashian has been spotted wearing! I am in love!

To find your perfect spring combination, why not visit the Zara website!

What fashion pieces are you lusting for at the moment? I'd love to hear from you all!

Charlotte xxx

My Sunday stroll around the lovely Bath!

Dear Diary...
While most of my friends were nursing their hangovers from yet another Saturday night involving a few too many, I was up and ready for a lovely fresh, breezy stroll! Travelling and sightseeing is up there with one of my many favourite things to do. I love nothing more than that feeling of visiting somewhere new; the excitement of seeing new sights and taking in new cultures. However, sometimes it's nice to just appreciate what you have nearby too!


I'm lucky to live just 20 minutes from the beautiful city of Bath, which has been named as a World Heritage Site; meaning it has been listed for its cultural and physical significance. Even after countless visits to this stunning city, I still get that excited, adventure-seeking feeling inside me! Armed with gloves, coats and scarves, I was ready to battle this hangover!


Bath is well-known for its Georgian architecture, along with many other tourist attractions such as the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa (perfect for a relaxing treat!), the Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey (to name a few!). It has a lovely old yet sophisticated, modern, fashionable feel to it; littered with cute little boutique shops and cafe's, yet still has a nice big shopping centre full of shops and restaurants we all know and love! Dragging my boyfriend around the shops was certainly on my agenda!!

What I love about Bath is how everything is within walking distance. The city is littered with parks to walk around, and sights to see,
which means you don't just spend the whole day shopping (even though I would like to!).

I only managed to take a few photos from my little trip, but I hope this inspires you all to pay a visit! I always feel so privileged to live so close to such lovely places :-) Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the rhythm and fast pace of everyday life, that little breaks like this are the perfect way to de-stress!

Charlotte xxx

THE BEGINNING!

Dear Diary...
So I am still trying my hardest to get used to this blogging malarkey, I didn't realise setting out the layout would be so difficult! However, I am so excited to actually get going and start fulfilling my dream to write!
As a Journalism and Media student, writing is obviously extremely important, so I can't wait to get going!! My lecturers and peers keep telling me is that in order to land myself my dream job as a magazine journalist, I really need to make myself stand out from the crowd! I've discovered this could be quite difficult, seeing as there are so many amazing blogs out there!

After thinking about my interests/hobbies and scrolling through many amazing blogs trying to get inspiration, I have finally decided what sort of blog would work best for me! I have decided that I'd quite like to simply write about what I want or feel like writing on the day!

Firstly, I have a massive obsession with beauty and make-up products, and could literally spend ALL DAY scrolling and learning about new products and techniques. It may sound creepy but I just love watching people do their make-up, seeing how they do it, what products they use etc etc which means I just LOVE getting ready with my girls before a night out!!! So I'd love to write a bit about this in my blog :-) One drawback of this would be that I am on quite a tight student budget therefore purchasing top-end products isn't always easy, but I will give it a go!

Also, I am quite the socialite and love going for food with my nearest and dearest, but my other interests include shopping, staying healthy and sightseeing and exploring! So I'd love to include a bit of this in my writing too! :-)

Think that's enough boring intro's from me, hope you enjoy reading!! I also desperately hope I can get my head round the layout ASAP because I cannot stand how it looks now!!!

Charlotte xxx

First time for everything!

Welcome to Dear Charlotte's Diary! This is my first ever blog so I am incredibly excited! I love trying out new things and have actually been wanting to start my own blog for a while now but never seemed to find the time or the enthusiasm! Luckily for me, one of my modules at Uni requires me to have my own blog therefore this gave me the push I needed!
Dear Charlotte's Diary is going to be pretty much my online diary. I'd like to think of it as a lifestyle/travel/fashion/beauty blog including any of my thoughts/ideas, reviews, things I'm interested in, what I have been up to etc etc!
Without boring you any more, I hope you enjoy my blog & thankyou for having a nose!
Let the magic happen!

P.S. If anyone has any tips or tricks to get into the swing of the blogging scene I'd love to hear from you!

Charlotte xxx